A blog from an Australian passionate about spending money on beauty products, and then talking about them.

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Monthly Archives: October 2014

My disclaimer for this post is that I’m about to rave about a ludicrously priced product that is quite hard to source. I apologise in advance, but it was too stunning to exclude from this blog!

I picked up the Stila Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eye Shadow with some difficulty during my time in the US. This stuff seemed to be sold out wherever I went, or I would only find one lonely shade. I’d tested out the shadow in Mecca Cosmetica a few months before, and was stunned at the coverage and quality, and how easy it was to use. I was determined to get the gold shade for greatest impact and maximum use (as I regularly wear gold and brown shades). For $US32.00, I wanted this shade [Metallic Gilded Gold], and no other [RRP $AUD44.00].

So as you can see, the eye shadow comes in a serious little bundle. It comes with a primer and a mixing plate, and a dropper to use with the primer. I’m slightly obsessive with keeping things new, so after using it, I cleaned it all up and took the dropper out – but if I was going to use this regularly, I could store it with just the dropper in the bottle.

The texture of this reminds me of a paste; I wouldn’t say it’s a cream, as it’s not as smooth or fine as a cream shadow. I’ve paired this randomly with a concealer brush, but an alternative brush would be the MAC 239.

So it’s a simple procedure – drop the primer into the pan, add the shadow, mix and apply. Upon application, it feels like any cream shadow, but once it sets, it actually feels like what I would imagine eyelash glue would feel like if it was applied to the entire eyelid – not uncomfortable, but noticeable. You’ve got a little bit of time to move it around before it sets – again, just like eyelash glue. Unlike cream shadows, it doesn’t rub into the skin, so it can be physically moved around the lid, rather than blended in.

The pigmentation from this stuff is insane – it’s really strong and deep, and really makes an impact. Unfortunately, I only took a dodgy photo of me wearing this with my phone (and with the front camera at that! Amateur!), so no great selfie to share at this stage. You’ll have to take my word for it (or obviously refer to some other beauty blogs) – this stuff is gorgeous!

It really is like tiny bits of foil – who knows how this stuff is made?! My only issue with it is that it’s not really a buildable shadow – this is the main performer. I paired it with an extremely dark shadow (Naked 3: Blackheart) and packed this on top. I personally wouldn’t spend the time packing and blending millions of shades underneath this, as you will probably not see any of it.

Would I buy it again? Sure, it’s very unique. Shame about the hideous price.Who would I recommend it to? I think my sisters from the Indian Subcontinent will love this shadow – it suits the style of makeup we can pull off at a traditional event.Is it value for money? I’m not sure what to say on this – I’ve made my thoughts very clear on the price. I suggest not thinking about the price and just buying it if it seems like your thing.How can you get it? Mecca Cosmetica in Australia and Sephora internationally.

Just kidding about the heading – no sadness about summer. But as summer is fast approaching here in Australia, it’s time to get serious about summer skincare. I have combination-oily skin, and am fearful of the sun’s rays touching my skin. Here are my summertime essentials:

QV Face Moisturising Day CreamI’ve been using this moisturiser daily for a year, and am still loving it. I’ve mentioned my respect for QV before, and this moisturiser has become a bit of a HG face product. It has SPF included, and is light and non-greasy, so perfect for summer. [RRP $11.99 – Find it at Chemist Warehouse]

Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen Spray (SPF 50)Now, I’m not much of a beach person, but I tend to make an annual pilgrimage there, and do my best to shelter from the rays. I picked this little beauty up last summer, and have replenished my stock for this coming summer (side note – it lasts ages, I disposed of mine during my US trip to make room for more exciting products!). It’s non-greasy on the skin, and leaves no residue when sprayed on your body – it does leave a sticky residue in your hair though, as though you’ve sprayed on too much hairspray. I actually use this on a regular basis when gardening, and I love it. [RRP $12.95 – Find it at your local supermarket]

Clarins Tonic Body Treatment OilThis little beauty was a sample from a Clarins counter in Myer. This oil has lasted ages, and I think will be a worthy addition to my summer collection, particularly as hair removal routines return to normal and my body demands more moisture. It claims to be suitable for preventing stretch marks during pregnancy, but if it doesn’t do that, it still smells and feels amazing. [RRP $62.00 – Find it at Myer]

Glam Glow Thirstymud Hydrating TreatmentThis was a US purchase that I am using very sparingly – the price is ridiculous. I made sure I sampled the hell out of this mask (unlike most other products in Sephora, it was like getting blood from stone at times to sample this), and found it to be extremely hydrating. It smells delicious (I sensed hints of coconut, one of my favourite scents), and can be worn as a short-term mask, or overnight. It takes a few uses to really notice the difference, but once I wore it around 4 times, my skin was feeling a lot softer and hydrated. [RRP $75.00 – FInd it at Mecca Cosmetica]

Bumble & Bumble DefrizzNow, I’ve been heat styling my hair since the 9th grade. I still remember the first hair straightener I bought, it had a double function as a crimper – it was a great era to grow up in. Ever since then, I’ve been fighting the battle with fly aways and frizz, and have tried a range of products, both high and low price points. Nothing frustrates me more than spending time on my hair, and then heading out into the heat and having it frizz out. Bumble & Bumble have an amazing range of hair products, and I’ve yet to try anything that didn’t do as the bottle indicated (although my exposure to the brand doesn’t extend to every product), and this little bottle of serum-y goodness doesn’t fail to deliver on its promise. Only a tiny bit of product is required, blow dry it in and see the results almost instantly. I also find that it seems to extend my blowdry/straightening session for an extra day – score! [RRP $38.00 – Find it at Mecca Cosmetica].

Rimmel Salon Pro PolishFinally, summer isn’t summer unless I have some garish bright nail polish slapped onto my tips. The little coral number in the photo has yet to get a chance on my hands, but it’s not too far away. Great range of shades for a low-price polish, and I find the Salon Pro colour range quite interesting – not huge, but every shade is quite unique. [RRP $8.95 – Find it at Priceline].

So that’s me in the lead up to summer – I’m sure many products will be added, but I’m expecting these to remain. Stay safe in the sun and heat, and don’t forget your hat!